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RECONCILIATION AND FAILURE OF THE LAW 79
B 7.
As a nursing mother her own children.
A 8-10.
Ye are witnesses. a Gospel of God. Imparted. `Not'.
b Gospel of God. Preached.
`Not'.
B 11,12. As a father his own children.
Two witnesses are brought forward by the apostle. `God is witness'; `Ye are witnesses'. Two figures of infinite
tenderness are used to express the apostle's attitude toward the Thessalonians. He had been gentle `like a nursing
mother cherisheth her own children', and `as a father exhorts and comforts and charges his own children'. Four
times he speaks of the gospel. First, the boldness with which they spoke even after the shameful treatment at
Philippi; secondly, the consciousness of being entrusted with the gospel which precluded all idea of pleasing
themselves or of pleasing men; thirdly, their willingness to have imparted not the gospel of God only, but also their
own souls; and finally, the preaching of this gospel without charge, for the apostle and his companions laboured
night and day to avoid being a burden to the church.
The real theme of the epistle, as it is in the epistle to the Galatians, is reached in the third chapter. Nothing can
be simpler than the following outline:
1 Thessalonians 3 to 5
3:1-10.
Faith.
3:11 to 4:12.
Love.
4:13 to 5:11.
Hope.
Here we have the key words of 1:3 expanded, and in the order there given. What is the burden of 3:1-10? It is
the faith of the Thessalonians. So concerned was the apostle with regard to the faith of these saints, that much as he
had longed for Timothy to come to him at Athens (Acts 17:15,16) the apostle thought it good to be left at Athens
alone, and sent Timothy to comfort them concerning their faith.
The tribulations through which they were passing, he feared, might tempt them to give up the faith (verses 3-5).
When Timothy returned, Paul was comforted by the good tidings of their faith and love (verses 6,7), and prays night
and day that he may see their face and perfect that which is lacking in their faith. The structure will throw this more
vividly into relief:
1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
Expansion of `The work of Faith'
A 1,2.
a Timothy sent to comfort Thessalonians.
b Concerning their FAITH.
B 3-5.
c Not moved by afflictions.
d Temptation and FAITH.
C 6.
e Timothy comes to Paul.
f Good tidings of FAITH.
A 7.
a Paul comforted.
b By their FAITH.
B 8-10.
c Stand fast.
d Perfecting of FAITH.
It is quite evident that faith is the great concern of this section, and we trust further comment will be
unnecessary.
The next subject in the order given in 1:3 will be `the labour of love', and accordingly love is the topic that
immediately follows.